AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Slowly, his question registers as I think of how to respond. “I fell in.”
“How?”
I ignore his question in hopes to draw his focus elsewhere. “What is happening above? I came down here to dry off and, suddenly, there was screaming.”
Aiden seems to accept the change in conversation as he removes his hands from my shoulders and starts tightening the strap to his blade. “Rebels from the Court of Abhain. As soon as I was able to sneak away, I came to search for you. To make sure you weren’t taken.”
Only taken? That’s rich. And here I thought he searched to see if I was hurt. I manage to swallow down everything I wish to spew at him and ask, “The court in the east?”
I recall Cora, Kye, and Fynn traveling there. The court with cascading waterfalls that decorate the edge of the crystal-like river that flows through the entire island. A land covered in flowers and grassy rolling hills. But how does he know the attackers are specifically from that court?
“Yes,” he hisses through his teeth. “They started firing arrows off their ships to ours. An assassination attempt on my father,” he grinds out. “He requests you to stop them.”
I walk past him, jabbing my shoulder into his as I do. “You mean he demands that I kill them,” I spit with all the venom I have into my voice as I reach the steps. The smells of sulfur and metal creep down here, coating the air from outside the ship. “He does not command me. For all I care, it would be a blessing to end his rotten heart.”
Aiden’s head jerks back like he’s been slapped, but he knows why I have such hatred for him. This shouldn’t be a surprise. “He is your king,” he says with a trickle of malice.
“I could make him beg me to have mercy on his life while he’s on his knees… That is no king of mine.” My voice is cold yet weighted with all the power dripping with each word.
A flash of what feels like pride washes through the bond, and it takes every will of strength I have to not dart my gaze over to where Draven resides. Instead, I watch Aiden’s knees quiver as I build the darkness up within me, threatening him to buckle with the surge of power I push toward him. The male I once thought was different, who I could change for the better, is nothing but a sad replica of his father. Seeing him almost fall to his knees from the slightest bend of power I let him feel is a sight that has my eyes dancing with venomous amusement.
The darkness in me creeps forward, tauntingly trailing its claws over my psyche. I squeeze my eyes shut in hopes of forcing it away. I know what the Masiren did to help me unlock the light wasn’t permanent. It’s up to me to completely gain control of both powers living inside of me. To practice how to wield both. And it seems when my emotions are high with anger, then the darkness heightens to feed off it as it rises to the surface.
Aiden straightens his spine, brushing his hands down the front of his jacket when I rein my power in. “People are being harmed in the crossfire.”
I take a step up on the stairs. They creak under my weight, and I squeeze my palm into a tight fist as I look up to the open hatch. “I will help, but only for the sake of the people.”
And with that, I hurry up the steps, each one squeaking beneath my shoes. The moment my head springs free from the door, clouds of smoke burn my eyes and I take in the destruction before me. Bodies are scattered on the floor of the ship, some dead, and some injured but will survive.
I curse under my breath when I spot Calloway shielding himself behind his guards. He’s willing to sacrifice endless lives in order to save his own.
In one swift movement, I spread my arms wide and surround the ship in a wall of shadows, pouring more power into it so it becomes impenetrable. One by one, each person on board freezes, halting their attack and staring with gaping mouths at the massive shield. Weapons clatter to the wooden boards that slide with each sway of the ship.
Silence engulfs the ship by the time I finish blocking any and all attacks that continue to slam against my power. I can feel every weapon that tries to penetrate my shadows. Right now, I need everyone to work together, and it looks like the new king is clueless on how to go about that.
“Wind keepers! I need you to push the ship back towards the palace as quickly as you can!” I scream for every listening ear, drawing wide eyes to land on me. Bodies begin to gravitate towards the tail end of the ship, following my command. “Water wielders! The sea needs to flow with the ship to help guide us back at a faster pace!” Again, some Fae start rushing towards the front of the ship, letting their power stream from their hands.
In a matter of minutes, the ship is sailing across the sea at breakneck speed. Once we are in the clear, I notice Aiden staring at me in awe. His father is behind him, silently seething with a vein pulsing in his forehead. I ignore both as I watch the palace come into focus.
The rush of water casts off the sides of the ship as we speed back to land. The clouds of smoke are left behind, and silence still emits from the ship. Almost as if everyone here is holding their breaths until their feet safely stand on solid ground again. With how fast the dock is approaching, it seems as if the attack never even happened. Except for the noticeable chunks that were blasted into the ship and hundreds of arrows protruding from the wood.
Suddenly, my skin buzzes with heat and it floods my body with want. I follow the feeling by glancing up and scanning the sky. If I blinked, I would have missed the beautiful set of shadowed wings soaring between the clouds. The organ in my chest beats with an ache of wanting to follow. To call him back to me.
But I can’t. I’ve already been commanded to hunt, or every soul will suffer. I can’t fall into the depths of emotions that swirl in his eyes and have started to stir in my stomach when he looks at me. I need to keep him at a distance. It’s the only thing I can do for now to keep him safe and get my thoughts straight.
CHAPTER THIRTEEN
Emma
Afew days have passed since we returned safely on the evening of the coronation. There have been zero attacks since, and the palace has been eerily quiet. Even the light-colored walls in my room look dim, shadowed with unease of what feels like the countdown to something waiting to explode.
When we had walked through the main doors after the attack, Calloway barely restrained the raw irritation in his voice as he said he would speak with me once everything got back to order. He then turned his back to me and demanded guards to be stationed along every inch of the perimeter surrounding the palace, only for him to remain hunkered safely inside. He seems to forget that a demon lurks within these walls, and she wants nothing more than to end his miserable existence. But if I do, the world will suffer at my hands under my father’s command for not playing nice.
Calloway’s not the target…for now.
I finish tossing on a backless dress that matches the color of my eyes and the deep-stained blood that runs through my veins. A silver cuff decorates my upper arm and matches the small, sheathed dagger I used to twist and pin all of my hair up. Some might believe this little gem is nothing more than a piece of jewelry to match my outfit. Those who do are gullible, because this dagger is real and can easily slice across a jugular.
I’ve remained in my room since we returned, and not one soul has delighted me with their presence. Thank whatever divine being steered them away. Even Aiden has been surprisingly absent, and I can only assume he’s been holed up with his father.
